Daryl Geweke

1925 - 2023

Daryl Geweke, 98, of Lodi, CA passed peacefully at home on December 8, 2023.
Snow, pigs, cattle, cars, surf and church. How in the world do these relate? Simple answer; Daryl William Geweke.
It was January 31, 1925 on a cold snowy night that Daryl William Geweke was born in a small farmhouse in Pawnee City, Nebraska, southeast of Lincoln, Nebraska. The family raised pigs and cattle living the classic rural lifestyle; up at first light, tending the farm then into the small town a few days a week to sell eggs, cream and livestock. By five years old, Daryl would make regular trips to town and while his parents tended to business, he would sneak over to the Ford dealership and learn every detail about the latest car. He often recalled how the "smell of a new car" was something you don't forget. Those visits would prove to be one of the main determinants of his future life. He knew cars would be in his future. During the Great Depression of the 1930s when labor costs were 50-cents a day for farm workers, Daryl learned, by necessity, that you must work to survive and work he did. He would do his early morning chores, ride his favorite horse, Black Beauty, over three miles to a parochial school, then return home and work.
Farm work made him strong and agile, which he used effectively in high school playing basketball and football. After graduation in 1943 he joined the Merchant Marines to support our WWII effort. At only 17-years old, he shipped out on Christmas day, and his family recalled that it was a tearful departure into the new world off the farm. After a 3-day train ride from Kansas City, Daryl crossed the Techaipai Mountains and saw a farm worker in the field wearing only a short sleeve shirt. He knew he was in a new world. He reported to Catalina Island for training and saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time. Feeling the warmth of California in December, he said, "There is a paradise on Earth". After securing ports and shipping routes, and surviving the constant threat of torpedoes, he went to the Philippines to serve under General Douglas MacArthur. But even after the treaty was signed with Japan and surviving five typhoons, life was still dangerous on board with mines everywhere. On the return trip home along the Aleutian Islands, Daryl was on bow-watch for mines, when one suddenly appeared, and by God's grace, the bow wave of the ship washed it aside. Completing 3.5-years of sea service, he would return to Nebraska and through hard work and natural organization skills, he managed to double the size of the family farm.
For recreation he would often visit a friend, Loren Rathe, in Omaha where he would attend services at First Lutheran Church. Daryl was baptized on February 8, 1925 and confirmed in Christian faith on May 28, 1939. Despite his deep faith, there was another reason to attend church and that was a beautiful young woman named Opal Demmel. They enjoyed dancing and double dating with friends, but in 1949 Daryl tired of the Nebraska winters and moved to Stockton, California where cousin, Claire Buethe, lived. During that summer, Opal came west to visit and never returned to Nebraska. Late that summer Daryl and Opal were married at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stockton, California. They immediately started a family in a short 3-years three children arrived; Jane, Larry and Debbie. Five years later Mark was born. That family has grown to include 12 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. This storybook marriage lasted 68-years until Opal's passing.
After a brief attempt at selling insurance, Daryl began to follow his childhood dream and started a used car sales company. As the market rapidly changed Daryl realized that new cars were more stable, and he took a position with Eagal Ford. John Eagal took Daryl under his wing and taught him the automobile dealership business for the next 12-years. Daryl was a quick study and very talented, having learned from livestock sales at an early age. He soon began to sell 44-cars a month making him top salesman for 10-years.
In 1965, a Ford franchise became available in Lodi and his vision of being a new car dealer was about to be realized. In 1973 he built a new Ford store in Lodi, then began opening other marques like Dodge, Jeep, Kia and Toyota. He added the Geweke Paint, Body & Tow and Geweke Ford RV (one of the largest in the Valley) to the portfolio. From his success, Daryl started to branch out into real estate ventures and quickly amassed a collection of apartments and retail properties. In 1989 he jumped into the hospitality business and built the Holiday Inn Express on Cherokee Lane and ultimately eight other hotels in the Northern Central Valley.
All of this success never affected his deep sense of faith and family. He was known for treating his employees like family, and many worked for him for decades because of that kindness. He loved to help others grow and was always willing to take the time to share his knowledge. Daryl was a very generous man. He gave regularly to fund community needs, grow churches and support those in need; the list of which is way too long to state here. He grew up knowing it takes time and hard work to succeed and he was famous for saying, "I only work half a day; 6AM to 6PM". Even until the end, Daryl would rise early, have his devotional time, then head to the office and make sure everything was ready for his staff to deal with issues of the day. Of course, most of us would wonder how he could do this for so long? His answer was simple, exercise each day, pray often and remain excited about your life. Daryl spent much of his life in a gym or pool and he not only lived longer, but much happier, as he often noted. He had a great sense of humor; quoting silly sayings that made us laugh and sometimes colorful humor that surprised us, but always lifted our day. He loved to sing old hymns or quote scripture. Those were the roots of his blessed and colorful life which he would share freely.
How many of you have been greeted with the Geweke handshake? You never shook Daryl's hand without an adjustment to interlock you little fingers and then you never forgot…only Daryl. Well today we remember not only that special handshake, but a very special man that has truly given more than he received. Being a life-long Ford man, Daryl asked that the family be escorted to the cemetery and reception in Model A and Model T Fords. I can hear him say "Gentleman start your engines". We are blessed for having known Daryl William Geweke, and we know he is now in the best hotel, driving the latest car on golden streets with God as his copilot. Thank you, Daryl, for all you did during your earthly tour. Until we meet again.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2023, at 11:30a.m. at St. Peter's Lutheran Church 2400 Oxford Way, Lodi, CA 95242. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Peter's Lutheran School Lodi or Lodi
Memorial Hospital Foundation. Cherokee Memorial Funeral Home is honored to serve the Geweke family.